14-Year-Old Australian Arrested in Bali

Teenage New South Wales Boy Arrested in Bali in Possession of Marijuana

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(10/7/2011)

A 14-year-old boy from New South Wales, Australia is currently in police custody in Bali after reportedly being arrested with 3.6 gram bag of marijuana on a Kuta street.

According to Tempo Interaktif, the boy is the youngest Australian ever arrested in Bali. Police are reportedly keeping the child in an isolation room at the police headquarters, separated from other prisoners.

Indonesian law does not permit the publication of the names of minors involved in criminal acts. Press reports suggest the boy has been traumatized by his arrest, crying continuously and unable to eat.

The boy, on holiday in Bali with his parents, was returning from a massage when he paid Rp. 250,000 (US$28) to a local man who reportedly told the Australian he had not eaten and needed money.

Formal charges have not been laid in the case that is still under investigation by police.

Officials form the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs have been ordered by Foreign Minister Kevin Rudd to make the boy’s case a top priority and seek an early release of the child.